Drummers leaving after Saturday’s circle walk along the highway because police closed off empty parking lots to discourage participation.

Laguna Beach police and park rangers pre-emptively closed off emptying public parking lots at Aliso Beach for last Saturday’s Full Moon Drum Circle due to predictions of a large turnout, and drummers say the decision put people in peril by forcing them onto the highway.

A dozen police personnel, two rangers and a fire department division chief were deployed to the event, said police Captain Jason Kravetz. Watch commander Sgt. George Ramos estimated the crowd peaked at 800 people, backing off from an earlier figure of 3,000, which he said was a cumulative count between 5 and 10 p.m., when the circle ends.

Two hours before the drummers start patting out a rhythm at 7 p.m., police blocked off the fee parking lots with 220 spaces on both sides of the highway, refusing entry to anyone, the first time authorities have taken such an action since the circle began in 2002.

“You can’t fault them for taking pre-cautions,” said Jerry Bloch, a Laguna Niguel resident and seven-year drum circle regular. “But it seemed as if the intent was to shut it down,” he said.

“The problem we had was closing the parking lots. What’s the point of that? It was an over-reaction on their part. They made a false assumption and the action they took was highly risky to members of the public,” said Bloch, who fears that continuing crowd-control efforts will kill a monthly ritual that many enjoy. “If the police want our assistance, we’re willing to cooperate so that we can continue this amazing event.”

Laguna Beach resident Billy Fried, who started laying down the beats 12 years ago, said Park Ranger Molly Stallcup in May asked him to apply for a permit.

“She said we were doing nothing illegal, but it had become very large. They were looking for a way to manage it and I guess put the liability on an entity,” said Fried, who refused to apply for a permit after seeking legal advice from Bloch.

Since there is no person responsible for the gathering, Bloch think a permit isn’t required.

“Any kind of large event will require a permit,” said Marisa O’Neil, a spokeswoman for OC Parks, pointing out that the drum circle has grown substantially in recent months along with complaints.

The first-time joint task force between police and rangers to provide extra enforcement at Aliso Beach “is trying to address the complaints and keep it a safe gathering,” she said. O’Neil could not say whether park officials intend to require a permit of future drum circles.

Aside from occasional film shoots, The Vic, an annual skimboard contest sponsored by Victoria Skimboards at Aliso Beach, is one of the few where county permits are required.

Dancers keep up the beat at a Full Moon Drum Circle in 2007.

Park officials require proof of insurance and charge a fee to evaluate scaffolding erected for banners and booths, said Victoria Skimboards founder Tex Haines, who figures the two-day contest peaks on Sunday with an audience of 500. No security is currently required, Haines said.

Like the drum circle, the contest charges no fees to bystanders.

The police response was based on monitoring of social media, the circle’s timing on a Saturday summer night and that a pedestrian was seriously injured on May 14 after drumming wrapped up, said Kravetz. “We saw it coming,” he said, and steps were taken to ensure that police could enter the crowd if a fight, for instance, occurred.

“We try to have a presence and dissuade illegal activity,” said Kravetz, adding that 15 citations were issued for minor offenses on Saturday. The circle has generated complaints about noise, fire dancers and hot coals buried in the sand, but no serious incidents, Kravetz said.

Fried conceded drugs and alcohol are likely consumed among the drumming crowd. “So I don’t begrudge the cops for coming down and ticketing people. We don’t want that scene either,” he said. The “point is I don’t fault the cops for wanting to control it. It’s gotten too big. But this was egregiously stupid, and if anyone had been hurt or killed, the LBPD and County of Orange would have the blood on their hands.”

While Kravetz stopped short of apologizing, he conceded police will re-evaluate the decision to close parking lots prior to the next full moon. “We don’t want people walking in traffic lanes or doing anything unsafe.

“…drummers say the decision put people in peril by forcing them onto the highway.” Cyclists pedestrians and dog-walkers are forced onto the highway #2 lane at Aliso Pedestrian Bridge on a DAILY basis for the last 50 years. Neither the police nor Caltrans cite the bridge hazard nor make any improvements there. Anyone else see need for pedestrian safety here? In 2011 Laguna was ranked #1 most dangerous city for pedestrians in 107 Orange County cities.

Jerry JoinerJuly 20, 2014 at 6:44 pm

I was at this event and other than closing the parking lot to traffic the Laguna Beach PD did an excellent job!! I think they did the right thing by closing the lot as there was just way to many people trying to get in the parking lots. My hats off to them as they were super cool to every one and it seemed if they were enjoying them selves at the event.

Tom SteckJuly 20, 2014 at 10:17 pm

I was there when the police closed the parking lot. The number of unlucky souls who have to brave walking along Highway 1 increased manyfold. That is the opposite of public safety. That is endangerment. I heard that there was a free shuttle from CVS– is it true? Why was it not in the article?
If the police are ticketing for dancing with fire the numbers will go way down again. There are few places to enjoy that art.

Laguna drum circle – one of the last vestiges of real, true Laguna…. the freedom to express oneself without a lot of rules, or an admission charge…. just sound, lights, music and movement under the stars with other like-minded folks. Nope, no more. It must be deemed dangerous somehow and it must be crushed. Laguna Beach is a laughingstock to other communities for all the rules it imposes. Dig a hole, let your dog run for a Frisbee, enjoy a plastic glass of wine at sunset on the beach, float in an inner tube – any of these and you are breaking the law. The LBPD can close the only parking lot on one of the busiest beach nights and force pedestrians onto Coast Highway in the dark – that’s protecting and serving. Ok, got it. We must destroy the village in order to save it.